WILDFOWL's SHOT Show Round-UP

Shot Show ushers in the new year for the firearm and hunting industry’s latest releases. With many companies putting on display their brand-new developments in firearm and ammunition technology, it proves to be a fantastic event for outdoor and shooting brands to showcase what they’ve spent their blood, sweat, and tears toiling over to release to the public for better, more enjoyable hunting.

This year’s show was no different. With new releases from gun and ammo manufacturers, it appears that waterfowlers are going to be provided with a wide selection of new gear to add their hunting arsenal. Here is a selection of some of our favorite releases from Shot Show:

Browning A5 Hunter 20-Gauge ($1,979.99)

https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/a5/a5-hunter-20-gauge.html

Hunters have been pleading for Browning to make their famous A5 model shotgun in a 20-gauge for decades. Previously, it had only been offered in a 12 and 16. This year Browning unveiled the A5 Hunter 20-gauge.  Offered in a sporting field style, the gun sports a deep black receiver, walnut stock, and a blued barrel. It has shim-adjustments for length of pull, cast, and drop. The gun also uses Browning’s Kinematic Drive System to use the recoil and convert it into the energy needed to operate the action.

HEVI XII .410 ($82.99-$104.99/box)

https://www.hevishot.com/waterfowl/hevi-xii/

HEVI-Shot is giving the .410 shooters something to cheer about with their release of the new HEVI-XII .410 load. The devastating knockdown power of HEVI-XII tungsten (53.8% denser than steel) makes the birds you hit crumple! Still loaded with the same 12 gram/cc tungsten that’s found in the 12-gauge loads, the .410 rounds will be offered in 5 and 7 shot sizes—perfect for your sub-gauge duck shoots.

MOJO Mallard Lite ($129.99)

https://mojooutdoors.com/product/mojo-lite-duck-decoy/category_pathway-182

The pioneers of motion decoys are continuing to pioneer and perfect their product line up. New for 2024, the MOJO team has released the MOJO Mallard Lite. 20% smaller than the original mallard, this decoy is designed for light weight, good balance, and of course—realism. The battery operating system received a few upgrades as well. With the new operating system, you can run your decoy on four double-A batteries, OR a rechargeable battery pack (either option allows the decoy to be controlled by a remote.) The new MOJO Lite uses a collapsible stake to help with transportation, as well as new streamlined mounting system for more ease. The wings are made of metal, giving them longer lasting durability. Overall, the new MOJO Mallard Lite will be a great upgrade to help bring more ducks into your spread.

ALPS OutdoorZ x Ducks Unlimited

https://alpsoutdoorz.com/waterfowl-gear.html

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ALPS OutdoorZ has become the new officially licensed brand of Ducks Unlimited. ALPS has created a vast waterfowl hunting selection over the years, with gear ranging from dry bags to their Zero Gravity layout blind. That gear will now wear an iconic logo—the Ducks Unlimited duck head. DU has partnered with ALPS to create their new Ducks Unlimited line of hunting gear to help hunters in the field. The logo will be found on anything from ground blinds to gun cases, giving the ever-faithful DU supporters a new reason to update their equipment.

Browning Citori Hunter 3” Chambered 28-Gauge ($2,249.99)

https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/citori/citori-hunter-grade-1.html

As the sub-gauge culture continues to take the waterfowl world by storm, Browning has now chambered their Citori Hunter Grade I over-and-under for 3” shells. This gives the user more options for shell choice, as well as a better selection of shot size to help with those hunts that might require just a few more pellets to ensure a successful pull of the trigger.

Federal Premium Ultra Steel

https://www.federalpremium.com/this-is-federal/new-products/

Federal is throwing their hat into the blended shot ring with their new Ultra Steel Double Stack loads. With eight sizes and combinations to choose from (ranging from BB to 3&5 stack) and 1 ¼ & 1 oz pay loads, these shells proved lethal during testing all last year. With zinc plated steel, the smaller pellets in the stacked loads serve not only as a good buffer to keep your pattern tight, but they also hit the birds like brick—add that with the bigger pellet sizes in the stacked load and you’ve got a hard-hitting, waterfowl-killing machine. Federal also added their rear opening FLITECONTROL FLEX wad to ensure that patterns stay tight, that way if any birds escape while you’re shooting, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Kent 3 ½” Fasteel+ ($38.95/box)

https://kentcartridge.com/shotshell/fasteel-precision-plated-steel-waterfowl

While many hunters are shying away from bigger loads and shot sizes, there are still plenty others who say “Give me the biggest, baddest, most goose-killin’-est shell you can!” If that’s you, say hello to the Kent Fasteel+, now offered in 3 1/2”. Boasting 1450 FPS, these 3 1/2” loads offer 20% more payload at no sacrifice to velocity. That means you won’t have to change or compensate your lead as you change shells. Simply just take aim and watch as the birds come tumbling down. Like my father always says, “Why do I shoot a 3 ½-inch shell? Because they don’t make a 4-inch.”

HEVI-Shot HEVI-METAL XTREME ($61.99/box)

https://www.hevishot.com/hevi-metal-xtreme.html

HEVI-Shot took notes from the lethality of their HEVI XII tungsten, but also realized that the cost put it out of reach for some hunters. Enter HEVI-METAL XTREME—with 30% tungsten #2s and 70% HEVI-Shot Precision Steel BBs, it’s a devastating load for ducks and geese. HEVI-METAL XTREME hits 53% harder than steel alone. With a FLITECONTROL FLEX wad to keep the payload on target, these shells will have you picking up extremely dead ducks instead of chasing after cripples.

Chatter Duck ($199.99)

https://chatterduck.com

A group of good ol’ boys from Alabama have put in some time to create a motion duck decoy that is rather impressive. Chatter Duck offers a drake and hen mallard that do the calling for you. No, not electronically, but with a call can (similar to the old-style grunt calls for deer) placed inside of the decoy. As the decoy moves about, air builds up on the reed creating the subtle feeding chatter you hear when ducks are content on the water. This decoy has multiple settings, as well adjustable rubber “swim feet” that attach to the wings. While the decoy’s wings flap, the legs that extend into the water splash around and cause the decoy to move. The legs can be positioned so the decoy swims in a circle, swims straight, or just causes a simple ripple. After 8 years of development, Chatter Duck has created a product that does all the work, all you need to do is shoot.